Factors related with adiponectinemia in obese and normal-weight women and with its variation in weight loss programs

Objective: To assess different factors influencing adiponectinemia in obese and normal-weight women; to identify factors associated with the variation (Δ) in adiponectinemia in obese women following a 6-month weight loss program, according to surgical/non-surgical interventions. Methods: We studied 100 normal-weight women and 112 obese premenopausal women; none of them was on any medical treatment. Women were characterized for anthropometrics, daily macronutrient intake, smoking status, contraceptives use, adiponectin as well as IL-6 and TNF-α serum concentrations. Results: Adiponectinemia was lower in obese women (p < 0.001), revealing an inverse association with waist-to-hip ratio (p < 0.001; r = –0.335). Normal-weight women presented lower adiponectinemia among smokers (p = 0.041); body fat, waist-to-hip ratio, TNF-α levels, carbohydrate intake, and smoking all influence adiponectinemia (r 2 = 0.436). After weight loss interventions, a significant modification in macronutrient intake occurs followed by anthropometrics decrease (chiefly after bariatric procedures) and adiponectinemia increase (similar after surgical and non-surgical interventions). After bariatric intervention, Δ adiponectinemia was inversely correlated to Δ waist circumference and Δ carbohydrate intake (r 2 = 0.706). Conclusion: Anthropometrics, diet, smoking, and TNF-α levels all influence adiponectinemia in normal-weight women, although explaining less than 50% of it. In obese women, anthropometrics modestly explain adiponectinemia. Opposite to non-surgical interventions, after bariatric surgery adiponectinemia increase is largely explained by diet composition and anthropometric changes.

Synthesis, structure and electrochemical behaviour of Na, Mg-II, Mn-II, Cd-II and Ni-II complexes of 3-(2-carboxyphenylhydrazone)pentane-2,4-dione

Mononuclear manganese(II) [Mn(kappa O-HL)(2)(CH3OH)(4)] (4), nickel(II) [Ni(kappa O-2, kappa N-L)(H2O)(3)] (5), cadmium(II) [Cd(kappa O-2-HL)(2)(CH3OH)(3)] (7), tetranuclear zinc(II) [Zn-4(mu-OH)(2)(1 kappa O:2 kappa O-HL)(4)(kappa O-HL)(2)(H2O)(4)] (6) and polynuclear aqua sodium(I) [Na(H2O)(2)(mu-H2O)(2)](n)(HL)(n) (2) and magnesium(II) [Mg(OH)(H2O)(mu-H2O)(2)](n)(-HL)(n) (3) complexes were synthesized using 3-(2-carboxyphenyl-hydrazone)pentane-2,4-dione (H2L, 1) as a ligand precursor. The complexes were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, H-1 and C-13 NMR (for 2, 3, 6 and 7) spectroscopies. Mono- or dianionic deprotonated derivatives of H2L display different coordination modes and lead to topologies and nuclearities of the complexes depending on metal ions and conditions used for the syntheses. Extensive intermolecular H-bonds form supramolecular arrangements in 1D chains (4 and 6), 1D chains of the organic anion and 2D networks of the metal-aqua aggregates (2 and 3), 2D networks (7) or even 3D frameworks (5). Electrochemical studies, by cyclic voltammetry and controlled potential electrolysis, show ligand centred redox processes as corroborated by theoretical DFT calculations in terms of LUMO and HOMO compositions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seismic imaging of the western Iberian crust using ambient noise: Boundaries and internal structure of the Iberian Massif

We present new Rayleigh-wave dispersion maps of the western Iberian Peninsula for periods between 8 and 30 s, obtained from correlations of seismic ambient noise, following the recent increase in seismic broadband network density in Portugal and Spain. Group velocities have been computed for each station pair using the empirical Green's functions generated by cross-correlating one-day-length seismic ambient-noise records. The resulting high-path density allows us to obtain lateral variations of the group velocities as a function of period in cells of 0.5 degrees x 0.5 degrees with an unprecedented resolution. As a result we were able to address some of the unknowns regarding the lithospheric structure beneath SW Iberia. The dispersion maps allow the imaging of the major structural units, namely the Iberian Massif, and the Lusitanian and Algarve Meso-Cenozoic basins. The Cadiz Gulf/Gibraltar Strait area corresponds to a strong low-velocity anomaly, which can be followed to the largest period inverted, although slightly shifted to the east at longer periods. Within the Iberian Massif, second-order perturbations in the group velocities are consistent with the transitions between tectonic units composing the massif. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cobalt and Zinc Compounds Bearing 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-dione or 1,3,5-Triaza-7-phosphaadamantane Derivatives - Synthesis, Characterization, Cytotoxicity, and Cell Selectivity Studies

The compounds [mPTA][CoCl4] (1, mPTA = N-methyl-1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane cation), [CoCl(H2O)(DION)(2)][BF4] (2, DION = 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione), [Zn(DION)(2)]Cl-2 (3) and [ZnCl(O-PTA=O)(DION)][BF4] (4) were synthesized by reaction of CoCl2 with [mPTA]I or DION and ZnCl2 with DION or 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane-7-oxide (PTA=O) and DION, respectively. All complexes are water soluble and have been characterized by IR, far-IR, H-1, C-13 and P-31{H-1} NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS, elemental analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction structural analysis (for 1). They were screened against the human tumour cell lines HCT116, HepG2 and MCF7. Complexes 2 and 3 exhibit the highest in vitro cytotoxicity and show lower cytotoxic activities in normal human fibroblast cell line than in HCT116 tumour cell line, which demonstrates their slight specificity for this type of tumour cell.

Tipologia, instalação, funcionamento e manutenção dos diversos tipos de aparelhos de apoio em obras de arte

Trabalho Final para a obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil

A estrutura da narrativa na escrita dos alunos surdos

Dissertação apresentada à Escola Superior de Educação de Lisboa para obtenção de grau de mestre em Ciências da Educação - Especialização em Educação Especial

Acompanhamento dos trabalhos de reabilitação de espaços exteriores à Casa Museu dos Patudos e edifício de apoio: Câmara Municipal de Alpiarça

Relatório de Estágio para obtenção de grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil Perfil de Edificações

Solution enthalpies of 1,4-dioxane: Study of solvent effects through quantitative structure-property relationships

Solution enthalpies of 1,4-dioxane have been obtained in 15 protic and aprotic solvents at 298.15 K. Breaking the overall process through the use of Solomonov's methodology the cavity term was calculated and interaction enthalpies (Delta H-int) were determined. Main factors involved in the interaction enthalpy have been identified and quantified using a QSPR approach based on the TAKA model equation. The relevant descriptors were found to be pi* and beta, which showed, respectively, exothermic and endothermic contributions. The magnitude of pi* coefficient points toward non-specific solute-solvent interactions playing a major role in the solution process. The positive value of the beta coefficient reflects the endothermic character of the solvents' hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) basicity contribution, indicating that solvent molecules engaged in hydrogen bonding preferentially interact with each other rather than with 1,4-dioxane. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Conectividade estrutural do cérebro: diferenças entre um cérebro normal e um cérebro com patologia

Perceber a rede estrutural formada pelos neurónios no cérebro a nível da macro escala é um desafio atual na área das neurociências. Neste estudo analisou-se a conectividade estrutural do cérebro em 22 indivíduos saudáveis e em dois doentes com epilepsia pós-traumática. Avaliaram-se as diferenças entre estes dois grupos. Também se pesquisaram diferenças a nível do género e idade no grupo de indivíduos saudáveis e os que têm valores médios mais elevados nas métricas de caracterização da rede. Para tal, desenvolveu-se um protocolo de análise recorrendo a diversos softwares especializados e usaram-se métricas da Teoria dos Grafos para a caracterização da conectividade estrutural entre 118 regiões encefálicas distintas. Dentro do grupo dos indivíduos saudáveis concluiu-se que os homens, no geral, são os que têm média mais alta para as métricas de caracterização da rede estrutural. Contudo, não se observaram diferenças significativas em relação ao género nas métricas de caracterização global do cérebro. Relativamente à idade, esta correlaciona-se negativamente, no geral, com as métricas de caracterização da rede estrutural. As regiões onde se observaram as diferenças mais importantes entre indivíduos saudáveis e doentes são: o sulco rolândico, o hipocampo, o pré-cuneus, o tálamo e o cerebelo bilateralmente. Estas diferenças são consistentes com as imagens radiológicas dos doentes e com a literatura estudada sobre a epilepsia pós-traumática. Preveem-se desenvolvimentos para o estudo da conectividade estrutural do cérebro humano, uma vez que a sua potencialidade pode ser combinada com outros métodos de modo a caracterizar as alterações dos circuitos cerebrais.

O USALI e sua implementação numa unidade hoteleira : trabalho de projecto

Mestrado em Contabilidade internacional

Avaliação ecocardiográfica da insuficiência mitral concomitante, na substituição valvular aórtica isolada: é possível prevê-la?

Mestrado em Tecnologia de Diagnóstico e Intervenção Cardiovascular - Ramo de especialização: Ultrassonografia Cardiovascular

Tipificação de fundações de torres eólicas em parques industriais, para diversos tipos de solos

Dissertação para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil na Área de Especialização de Edificações

Logic functions based on optical bias controlled SIC Tandem devices

The purpose of this paper is the design of an optoelectronic circuit based on a-SiC technology, able to act simultaneously as a 4-bit binary encoder or a binary decoder in a 4-to-16 line configurations and show multiplexer-based logical functions. The device consists of a p-i'(a-SiC:H)-n/p-i(a-Si:H)-n multilayered structure produced by PECVD. To analyze it under information-modulated wave (color channels) and uniform irradiation (background) four monochromatic pulsed lights (input channels): red, green, blue and violet shine on the device. Steady state optical bias was superimposed separately from the front and the back sides, and the generated photocurrent was measured. Results show that the devices, under appropriate optical bias, act as reconfigurable active filters that allow optical switching and optoelectronic logic functions development providing the possibility for selective removal of useless wavelengths. The logic functions needed to construct any other complex logic functions are the NOT, and both or either an AND or an OR. Any other complex logic function that might be found can also be used as building blocks to achieve the functions needed for the retrieval of channels within the WDM communication link. (C) 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Non-uniform microstrip antenna array for RX DSRC communications

The urgent need to mitigate traffic problems such as accidents, road hazards, pollution and traffic jam have strongly driven the development of vehicular communications. DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) is the technology of choice in vehicular communications, enabling real time information exchange among vehicles V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) and between vehicles and infrastructure V2I (Vehicle-Infrastructure). This paper presents a receiving antenna for a single lane DSRC control unit. The antenna is a non-uniform array with five microstrip patches. The obtained beam width, bandwidth and circular polarization quality, among other characteristics, are compatible with the DSRC standards, making this antenna suitable for this application. © 2014 IEEE.

The impact of different power dividers used in a non-uniform planar antenna array

Wireless communications are widely used for various applications, requiring antennas with different features. Often, to achieve the desired radiation pattern, is necessary to employ antenna arrays, using non-uniform excitation on its elements. Power dividers can be used and the best known are the T-junction and the Wilkinson power divider, whose main advantage is the isolation between output ports. In this paper the impact of this isolation on the overall performance of a circularly polarized planar antenna array using non-uniform excitation is investigated. Results show a huge decrease of the array bandwidths either in terms of return loss or in polarization, without resistors. © 2014 IEEE.